PART ONE
DEVELOP YOUR ARTIST STATEMENT
Definition of Artist Statement
YOUR ARTIST STATEMENT WILL BE THE FIRST THING YOU WRITE, and it becomes the foundation for longer or more targeted writing. I will ask you to keep your notes throughout the entire process of crafting your statement. Hold on to the phrases and sentences you edit out of your final statement; they could prove useful for other forms of promotional writing.
What an artist statement IS NOT
An artist statement is not art. It is not a full translation of a visual statement into a verbal statement. The writing does not need to encapsulate all of your creative striving and complexities. It does not need to be entirely original or brilliant, and say everything you want to say to the world.
What an artist statement IS
An artist statement is a concise arrangement of words that acts as a bridge to connect your audience to your art.
This definition is important because it helps to clear up the confusion about the many forms an artist statement can take. Statements may describe an entire body of work, a series, or a single art piece. Others are written to impress a jury, win a grant, or land a commission. Art teachers may require a student to write in the context of art theory. Some artists use their statements as expressions of personal belief. Some intend them purely as a sales tool. All these types fit within this definition. Although the form may vary depending on the context, the basic definition remains the same.
An artist statement is a concise arrangement of words that acts as a bridge to connect your audience to your art.
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